The influence of urban layout on perceived residential quality in a Costa Rican suburb

The chapter explores how the urban layout and residential characteristics of a Costa Rican suburb influence residents’ perceptions of residential quality. The study, conducted in Floriana in Heredia Province, also examines the effects of housing density and proximity to town centres on perceptions of residential quality. To achieve this, a survey was used to tap the perceptions of residents living inside and outside housing developments (gated communities). Responses were used to create perceived residential environment quality indicators (PREQIs). In addition, geographic information about residential areas was collected and analysed. Results show differences between residents living ‘inside’ housing developments (e.g., more negatively affected by higher housing density) and those living ‘outside’ housing developments (e.g., more negatively affected by distance to town centres). Findings support the need to attend to residential sprawl, the overdevelopment of gated communities, and the urban layout to ensure higher residential quality in suburban developments in Costa Rica and other Latin American countries.